Condensate collector for toilet flush tanks



July 31, 1956 H. w. ADDISON, JR

CONDENSATE COLLECTOR FOR TOILET FLUSH TANKS Jaw/Via? Filed Nov. 9, 1953 United states Patent Patented July 31, 1956 Free CONDENSATE CQLLECTGR FOR TOILET FLUSH TANKS Harry W. Addison, IL, Marshall, Minn. Application November 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,998

4 Claims. (Cl. 4-252) This invention relates to a simplified and substantially entirely concealed condensate collector for toilet flush tanks and the like.

Many different types of devices have been invented in an attempt to solve the problem of preventing the condensed moisture on the outside of a toilet flush tank from dripping onto the floor of the bathroom. Most of these devices are conspicuous and require a relatively expensive collection tray into which the condensate drips and from which the collected liquid must be drained.

It is an object of my invention to provide an extremely simple, yet highly eflicient, condensate collector for toilet flush tanks and the like which will absorb the condensate moisture received from the flush tank surface and drain the same into the toilet bowl through absorbent moisture-conducting elements while maintaining the entire assembly in substantially entirely concealed position directly below the flush tank bottom.

More specifically, it is an object to provide an absorbent type drip collector having an absorbent member underlying at least the outer peripheral portion of a toilet flush tank to collect the condensate dripping therefrom, said absorbent member having an absorbent drainage web connected therewith and adapted to extend downwardly therefrom when in operative position to carry ofl? excess moisture and drain the same directly into the toilet bowl.

It is still another object to provide an absorbent drip collector for toilet flush tanks and the like which includes a double surfaced absorbent member with the upper-surface underlying at least the outer peripheral portion of a toilet flush tank and the under surface connected with the upper surface to provide an exposed evaporation bottom surface from which a relatively large volume of moisture will be evaporated, and said drip collector including an elongated flexible absorbent moisture-conducting element through which excess accumulated moisture may be carried from the absorbent collector member into the toilet bowl.

These and other objects and advantages will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. l is a pre-assembly view showing all of the disassembled parts in top plan;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view partially in transverse vertical section showing my device in assembled operative position mounted on a toilet with the seat and cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3 with portions thereof shown in vertical section;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing my device mounted on an alternative type of toilet with the cover and seat removed;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view partially in section of the structure shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 7 and showing the tank in side elevation.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, I show one type of a conventional flush tank construction. in this form of construction is designated by the numeral 10, the flush tank by the numeral 11, the inter-connection elbow conduit between the tank and the bowl by the numeral 12, and the water supply pipe by the numeral 13.

My new absorbent drip receiver for collecting the condensate dripping from the flush tank during warm weather consists in a flat, inconspicuous drip collecting structure which, in the form shown, is made in two sections, respectively designatedby the letters A and B. Also, in the form illustrated, each of the sections A and B has a fiat supporting plate, respectively designated by the numerals l4 and 15, and said plates have the inwardly and forwardly extending drainage web supporting arms, respectively designated by the numerals 16 and 17. These web supporting arms 16 and 17 each have a central depressed portion with a row of drainage apertures, respectively designated by the numerals 16a and 17a, formed therethrough. Absorbent pads, respectively designated by the numerals 18 and 19, are respectively mounted around the plates 14 and 15 as by being secured to the top and bottom surfaces thereof by any suitable means such as by being glued thereto by a suitable waterproof type of adhesive. These pads "18 and 19 are made from highly absorbent, .fiexible sheet material and, in the from illustrated, the lower layer thereof is continuous, as best shown in Fig. 7, and the marginal edge portions extend up and around the edges of said plates and form the drip receiving and collecting portion of the device by being securely anchored to the marginal edge portions of the supporting plates 14 and 15, as best shown in Fig. 1. The outer marginal portions of the top absorbent cover flaps are positioned in underlying relation to the peripheraledge portions of the flush tank 11, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and receive and collect the condensate dripping from the lower edges of the sides of said tank. The plates 14 and 15 are, of course, constructed of any suitable flat, substantially rigid material which is not affected by the presence of moisture, such as aluminum or plastic sheet material.

In order to conceal the device as much as possible, the drainage web supporting arms 16 and 17 have a pair of drainage webs 20 and 21 mounted only on the bottom side thereof with their upper ends securely connected with the forward portion of the bottom layers of the flexible absorbent pads 13 and 19 as by forming continuations thereof. While I have found that heavy turkish toweling material works very satisfactorily for these pads 18 and 19, said pads could also be cut directly fromv stiff porous and absorbent material which would, of

course, obviate the necessity of using the supporting plates 14 and 15. The drainage webs 20 and 21 are securely anchored to the bottom sides of the arms 16 and 17 and extend forwardly therefrom and downwardly a slight distance below the upper edge of the toilet bowl 10 at the rear thereof, as best shown in Fig. 2. The drainage webs 2t) and 21 are cut off to maintain the same.;

The toilet bowl excess, water collectedimthe bottom Jayep oi the respec tive absorbent pads. It is obvious that the upper surfaces of the absorbent pads receive and collect the moisture'; from; the outsiderofi thei tanlc -1 1- andsaid=-moisture is carried: downwardly. therefrom to -the bottom surface. ofthe paid. which issubsta'ntially; entirely.- exposed 1 to =the air; andtforrnsi an evaporatingsurface from which a largeportion of said moisture is evaporated; In-the event that the'rate" of evaporation due:to high humidity of the air isinsuflicient to prevent saturation of the lower absorbent layer, the excess water.accumulating-therein-is-removed therefrom. by. the drainagerwebs' and 21 which are, ashasabeen previously: stated; respectively connected with thev lower: layers: of the drainage pads and: the moisture passes by gravity'arrd. capillary action from said layers to the drainage webs- 201 and 21- and, by the same gravity andl capillary action; drips from. said webs into the toilet bowl;

Suitable; means are provided for positively securing thesection A? andB in underlying relation to the tank 11'; In the formwof connection between the flush tank and toiletbowl illustrated in Figs; 2 and 3 the' elbow conduit 12 providesan accessible, attachment to which a clamp' 24 maybe securely anchored. A-cl'amping' screw 25 may' be. used to securely attach: said clamp 24 to the 'upper portion of the'conduit 12. A-horizontally disposed sleeve- 26 is fixed tothe rear portion: of" clamp 24 and apair of retaining arms. 27 and 28, having'elongatedstraight shank portions at the inner endsthereof and'pressure-applying. fork elements=27a and 28a at the'otherends thereof, are insertedzthrough said sleeve; as best shown in' Figs; 2, 3' and 5, and thearms: 27 'and" 28'through forks 27a and 28a thusi exertupwardly directediret'aining pressure on the bottomof the :two sectionsA and B respectively and hold said sections securely= against the bottom surfaceof=tank'11.-

With the type of toiletbowl illustrated in Fig; 6'-where'-- in; the rear of the bowl extends rearwardly to-underlie andsupportthefiush tank thereon; it-is obvious-thatthe clamp24and= sleeve lfiicannotbe used. However, the toilet'bowl29'with tank- 30 mounted thereon, as illustrated in Figs: 6, 7- and 8; is constructed to permit the" sections A and-B'to-bepositioned between-the rearward ly'extended portion 29a of h'owl 29 and-the bottom'of tank 30, and 'there is provided sufii'cient space between said flush tankbottom and the top of rearwardly extending portion 29a to permit the inner shank portions of retaming-arms= 27" and 225 to be positively wedged therebetween'to'fo'rce' the=supportingforks 27a and 28a respectively' against the bottom surfaces of Sections A and 'B and: positively hold the top" surfaces of said sections inengageme'nt with. the-bottomof the fiush tank- 30'; As

best' shown in-Fig'. 1 Sectionqe'cv is recessedto receive the inlet conduit 13 and of course a recess of suflicient= size" must be provided in the centralportion of the sections-' A and B ta provide clearance forthe elbow conduit It will be seenthat I I have provided arelatively simple andiinconspicuous dripcollector for the condensate'produced on the outside of toilet flush tanks during warm humid weather; which collectorby meansof 'a' highly absorbent pad will carry the colle'cted moistureby 'capillary'actionfrom the upper'surfacethereof to the lower exposedsurfacefrom which a substantial portion-of said moisturewill be evaporated; Itshould alsobe noted that-the-provision of awhi'ghlY-absorbent discharge webprovides-means for carryingoii excess' moisture which cannotbe evaporated fromthe lower surface of the ab= sorbent pad and discharges said excess moisture by-capillary action into the toilet bowl.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of this-sinvention which; generally stated; consists inthe: matter shown and described herein and set forth in theappended claims.

What I claim'is:

l. A condensate collector and evaporator for. toilet flush tanks comprising a pair of cooperating flat sections, each including a substantially rigidsupporting platewith a sheet of flexible, highly absorbent material secured to the top and bottom surfaces thereof and overlying, at least the 'outermarginal' portion of the topsurf'ace, each of said absorbent sheetshavingan elongatedweb ofab sorbent material connected with the bottom layer there of; and: an elongated armstructure fixed to' each of said plates and extending;inwardly-therefrom* along the front" edge'thereof and having a portion of "the elongatedweb" connected therewith;- saidWebs respectively carryingotf excess: moisture accumulated in the bottom absorbent" layer.

2. The structure set forth in clainr 1, and said web supporting arms having thewebs mounted only ontlie bottomsurface thereof andzhaving'atplurality of 'spaced apertures in the top surface to permit-the moisture dripping thereon to contact said web and be carried ofl thereby. r

3'. N condensatecollector and evaporator for toilet-- flush" tanks comprising a-pair of cooperating flat sections:- having absorbent top 1 and bottom surfaces at leastaround thema'rginal: portions thereof andconstructed of a' size andzshape to underlie at least the marginal edge portions of artoiletiflush tank, arr elongated 1 hollow member. con--- stmctediandiarranged'tobe securely anchored to' an intermerliate'vportionv of the flush tank, a pair of resilient elongatedz wedgingv arms having their inner-end' portions. receivediwithintsaitthollow'member tourgeby cantilever action; the outenends'zupwardly. into respective engagement with the undersides of said sections to hold said? sections in engagementwith the bottomof the. flush tank, and: drainage :means' for carrying; ofi' excess moisture; ac cumulated on the bottom absorbed. surface of each: of

said sections. V c,

4; The; structure:set= forth in claim? 3 and the ,means; for anchoring said hollow member'comprising aclamping;

element constructed \andarranged. to be securely. clamped torthelconduit betweenthe flush tank and the' toilet; bowl.

andfixed .tosaid. elongated hollowxmember to securely.-

mount: the same below the .flush' tank.

References Cited the file ofthispatent STATES PATENTS 

